The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-12-18
JOHN G. WHITTIER.
Something About the Poet Who Cele-
brated His g. tn Birthday Yesterday.

Something About the Poet VINO Cele-
DRAFTED His g. tn Birthday Yesterday.
From the Nelo York Herald.
or the half dozen most noted poets of our
own land Longfellow published his noble
"Ultima Thule at "a, and lived year after
10 hear his mental coinage commended.
Emerson did not die until nearly 80, and
Bryant, being sustained by sense of re-
sponsibility for a newspaper as well as by
the muse, reached the ripe age OF 81 years.
Among the three who remain, Lowell, at
nearly TO- is handsome, more cheerful and
more vigorous than the average man at 90;
Holmes promises to outlive his own historic
'One Hoss Shay" and Whittier celebrated
his S0tb- birthday yesterday
Yet Whittier was not man TO whom the
most reckless life insurance agent would
have promised length of days. Although
born in the farming region of New England
and accustomed to outdoor exercise and la
Dor, his physique always was delicate, and
his mind was ever robbing his body OF
strength. Although no man could be more
III sympathy with what is genuine in the
progressive spirit of the age, probably no
man detests the hustle of a great city or the
rattle of a railway train more intensely than
Whittier. Among prominent Americans
he enjoys the distinction of not having been
in New York since so long that his
dearest friends can scarcely remember the
date. So little is he seen among the busy
haunts of men that many of his admirers
believe him a recluse, the truth being that
his apparent seclusion is due only to nervous
inability to endure confusion.
Mr.. Whittier's present home is at Dan
vers, Mass Nearly fifty years ago, after as
eventful life in journalism as any man OF
equal age at the present day has expert
enced, he sold his successful farm at Haver-
bill and moved, with his mother, to AmeS-
bury, Mass. The exterior of his house was
as severely plain as any of his Quaker breth-
rem could have desired. but his study is re-
membered by scores of his friends as one of
the sunniest contest retreats in New En-
gland. Here he intended to pass the re-
mainder of his days, but a few years ago
the marriage and removal of his niece, who
had been his housekeeper, influenced him to
make his permanent home with some rela-
tiyes at Danvers, although he spends much
of every summer at the Isle of Shoals,
the New Hampshire mountains and his old
home at Amesbury.
The poets home well BELTS its noted oc-
cupant, The house is large, antique, plain,
yet imposing, the style being that of some
noted houses of the revolutionary period. A
broad. loft fl mt, with porticos on both
sides and extending to the caves, gives an
aspect of distinction, to which broad wings
add materially Although within the
boundaries of a busy village and within an
hours Journey of the modern Athens, Whit
tiers home seems as far from the world as
if it were in the depths of the Rocky Noun
tains. This seclusioI is partly because the
house is at the extreme edge of the village,
off the road TO any place in particular, but
also because the house is skilfully screened
by trees.
1t is worthy of note. however that, strain
the eye never so earnestly, it is impossible
TO see from any portion of the poets home
a mill, house with French roof, or even
one Of the architectural denominations
known as a "stylish modern suburban resi-
deuce" The nearest house is a large,
gambrel-roofed, small-windowed reminder
of ancient New England; and beyond this,
in the village cemetery, are the last earthly
homes of some forefatheIs of the hamlet
who started in search of the celestial city
two centuries ago, leaving screed and
cymbal. over which the lichens are quietly
spreading the mantle of oblivion. The
further views from Oak Knoll are bounded
by hills, all so distant that, look whichever
he will, the poet see great deal of earth,
with no handiwork of man to obscure any
part of heaven.
In personal appearance Whittier is re-
markable. Tall, and as straight as one of
the young pines in his favorite grove. 1t
seems impossible that he is about at the end
of four score years. The crown of his head
is bald, and his hair is glossy silver, but his
great black eyes are as clear, bright and
piercing as if he were in the prime of life
He walks with the elaboration and dignity
of age but without a suggestion of physical
feebleness, and while he remains standing
his head is as finely poised as a soldiers
The straightness of his figure is the more
noticeable on account of his Quaker dress
the coat of which fits him as neatly and
closely as if it were the conventional
swallow tail" When seated and listening,
his head drops slightly forward and aside
lures the world over. He is most appre-
ciative readers of other mems books and
poems, and talks admirably of all good
writings, except his own, of which he can
scarcely be persuaded to speak, even to his
dearest intimates.
MIR. Whittier's step is quick and firm, and
save for sunl1en eyes and a culver of the
under lip he might easily be taken for a
man of 60. He wears long black Prince
Albert coat with wide black velvet collar
that comes down in front nearly to his
waist, allowing view of his black waist
coat, white shirt front, big rundown col
lar and dark tie. A piece of silk tape is
around his neck and serves as a guard for
his watch, carried in his upper left hand
waistcoat pocket, and for his gold framed
glasses, which fall at his side. Low shoes,
gray wooden stockings and roomy pepp
and salt trousers make up his wearing ap-
parel He wears a full white beard and no
moustache.